Indeed, I was beginning to fear the worst, and even personal indignity, when all at once the humour of the thing broke upon me strongly.

I could have laughed aloud; and being again summoned to speak up, I faced my patrons for the first time with a smile.

"Very well," I said, "I will try, though I don't suppose anybody wants to hear, and I can't see why anybody should." Audience and lecturer laughed together till the tears ran down; vociferous and repeated applause hailed my impromptu sally.

Another hit which I made but a little after, as I turned three pages of the copy: "You see, I am leaving out as much as I possibly can," increased the esteem with which my patrons had begun to regard me; and when I left the stage at last, my departing form was cheered with laughter, stamping, shouting, and the waving of hats.
Pinkerton was in the waiting-room, feverishly jotting in his pocket-book.

As he saw me enter, he sprang up, and I declare the tears were trickling on his cheeks.
"My dear boy," he cried, "I can never forgive myself, and you can never forgive me.